Greece restarts free obesity drugs for 43,500 patients, up to eight doses each

Obesity drug programme restarts

Deputy Health Minister Eirini Agapidaki said the free obesity drug programme covers 43,500 patients already enrolled, and that up to eight doses can now be given to each of them from the start. The exact number of doses, from 1 to 8, will be set individually by the treating doctor. She said the recommendation came from the Public Health Expert Committee at the end of the previous week, after the programme was halted in June.

Agapidaki attributed the delay to bureaucratic procedures needed to move the funding from Community to national resources. She said the programme continues as normal and is entirely free of charge. New beneficiaries will be announced in due course in cooperation with Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, according to her statements on SKAI radio.

Breast cancer screening

Electronic referrals are being sent in stages to 2.4 million women aged 45 to 74 for free digital mammography and, where provided, a free ultrasound. The screening is part of the Month of Prevention for Breast Cancer under the PROLAMVANO programme. Agapidaki said at least 6,000 women have been diagnosed at early stages through the programme, and warned that the country has a high mortality rate among women aged 55 to 69.

No woman should ignore the message, as our country has a high mortality rate in the 55-69 age group.

Next steps for cardiovascular screening

From the beginning of November, SMS invitations for cardiovascular screening will begin to go out gradually. The screening includes a free Lp(a) test for hereditary cholesterol, and Agapidaki said Greece is the only EU country that will provide it free of charge. Children will also be checked where levels are high. Further free tests, such as scintigraphy and stress echo, will be provided if findings require them. She said more than 1,000 people with serious coronary disease were identified in the previous cycle.